'The games we play in New Orleans and beyond'

Well that (still) happened

New Orleans is still hot though

Mark Patrick Spencer

New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins

associated press

Sometimes it feels as if the unthinkable happened a lifetime ago. Sometimes it feels like it happened a minute ago. Sometimes nine days feels like an eternity; sometimes it is the blink of an eye. Of course, I’m talking about the time when my buddy Jimmy got his head ran over by a dirt bike when we were kids. What? What non-BMX event did you think I was talking about? OK, fine.

Damn Vikings.

But that was then and this is now. It’s time to move on, pat each other on the back and realize the Saints gave ‘em hell this season. Also, lucky for us, there are a lot of good things happening on the local sports scene. Let’s flip the channels.

New Orleans Pelicans (25-21)

It feels like it’s really happening with the Pels, folks. The team is starting to string together wins against some decent competition (Boston, Portland) by playing some awesome defense.

That is a lie. This team could not care less about defense and that’s why I love them. Like the Pelicans, I know that defense is for suckers in the NBA and now lets focus on our alley-oop game. Up top!

I get it. You’re thinking, “Mark, you said hot teams, not teams with losing records and I really like your hair.” You’re right my friend, my hair is looking pretty tight these days.

As are the Privateers! Yes, their overall record is upside down but UNO is 6-2 in the Southland Conference. Unfortunately, that only has them in fourth place in the hotly contested Southland. The conference is led by Nicholls State, which — after qualifying for the FCS football playoffs this year — I guess is now great at everything all of a sudden. Go Kerns?

Anyway, the Privateers need to eat up these next three games, as they play Northwestern State (3-15) twice and Incarnate Word (5-12). After that? A showdown with Nicholls State — possibly the greatest program of all time named Nicholls State.

Tulane Green Wave Men (12-7)

If you’re supposedly a Green Wave fan but aren’t making it out to Devlin Fieldhouse this year, then just look at yourself in the mirror and repeat — I am not a Green Wave basketball fan and why does my beard keep growing in like this.

The Green Wave’s rise continues and they could do some damage as the upcoming schedule sets up nicely. Tulane plays USF on Jan. 25 (my birthday, bow tie, any color you want, thanks), a team that is winless in the AAC. The next five are against teams they’ve beaten or can definitely play with.

It’s already a banner year in Coach Dunleavy’s second year with the club, but no matter how it turns out, the team can always look back on this year and into each other’s eyes and say, “Hey man, we beat Nicholls State and they can never take that from us.”

By the way, I have other birthday ideas if bow ties aren’t your thing. Email me.

*tulanegreenwave.com

Here Comes Baseball!

No, not pro baseball, I’m talking college baseball.

Why? Only because Major League baseball is awful and, say it with me, too damn long. Major League baseball is a cold bitter rain on Mardi Gras day. Major League baseball is your girlfriend asking if you want to go to Target just to look around. Major League baseball is the boss calling you on the phone at 5:28 p.m. on a Friday.

Honestly, I watched an e-sports match (do they call them matches?) once last year. I can’t say I did the same with Major League baseball. And if you don’t know what e-sports is I intentionally didn’t link to it so in the time it takes you to Google it you’ll get a case of the olds because you are an old person and the world keeps moving faster and faster. Kids are wild these days, man.

Anyway, Tulane, UNO and LSU all kick off their seasons on Feb. 16 and, at some point or another, they will all have to face the fury that is Nicholls State.

I want to personally, via the internet, say thank you to everyone who commented on the blog or sent an email last week after my article on Marcus Williams went live. You great folks make my world go round and it makes me feel good to know that you’re out there.

Let’s be good people. Let’s be happy. Let’s all salivate at the team the New Orleans Saints will field next year and lets have the greatest Carnival season ever.

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'The games we play in New Orleans and beyond'

about

Mark Patrick Spencer is a writer and assistant director whose work has published in the pages of many literary journals, including Hobart and Midwestern Gothic.

Spencer has worked in the entertainment business for 10 years. He broke into film as a production assistant on the football-based "Friday Night Lights," in Austin, Texas. Spencer moved to New Orleans in 2014, and has assistant directed films such as "By Way of Helena," and "Kickboxer: Vengeance."

Spencer lives in Uptown, where he can be found sitting on his porch telling lies about how great he was during his high school football years.